The “Timely Justice Act,” approved by the House last week, creates shorter time frames for death penalty appeals and take away the governor’s discretion about when to order an execution.

If Scott signs the bill or allows it to become law without his approval, 13 Death Row inmates would fit its criteria, meaning the governor who has signed nine death warrants in the 29 months since he took office would have to order 13 executions within six months.

.......Twenty-four Florida Death Row inmates have been exonerated, the most of any state in the nation.

.......Florida is the only state in the nation that allows a simple majority of the jury on capital cases. Critics of the bill had tried to change it to require a 10-2 majority of the jury as Alabama requires. All other states with the death penalty require unanimous jury decisions.

Scott has declined to comment on where he stands with this legislation, but should he sign it, it could place him in yet another competition with rival Rick Perry of Texas, who openly brags about the number of executions his state carries out.

The “Timely Justice Act,” approved by the House last week, creates shorter time frames for death penalty appeals and take away the governor’s discretion about when to order an execution.

If Scott signs the bill or allows it to become law without his approval, 13 Death Row inmates would fit its criteria, meaning the governor who has signed nine death warrants in the 29 months since he took office would have to order 13 executions within six months.

.......Twenty-four Florida Death Row inmates have been exonerated, the most of any state in the nation.

.......Florida is the only state in the nation that allows a simple majority of the jury on capital cases. Critics of the bill had tried to change it to require a 10-2 majority of the jury as Alabama requires. All other states with the death penalty require unanimous jury decisions.

Scott has declined to comment on where he stands with this legislation, but should he sign it, it could place him in yet another competition with rival Rick Perry of Texas, who openly brags about the number of executions his state carries out.